As far as I see things, it is like the nutritional concept of a “Better Bad Choice.” Some nutritionists suggest that if you are faced with a menu with a bunch of poor nutritional choices, you make the better choice out of a lot of bad options. Not terribly fun, but much more fun than non-functional arteries.

With CB Dunta Robinson coming off injury last year, the Texans didn’t have a bunch of great choices to get an experienced cornerback at good value. They saw Reeves as an upgrade over what they had, and I think they were right. (Which, of course, is not meant in any way as compliment to the Texans secondary).

Jacques Reeves as Texas diplomat

Since Reeves got so much playing time for the Texans, the Cowboys may be receiving a compensatory pick. Though that might be interesting to those of you who are Texans-Cowboys fans, I found it more interesting reading about Reeves offseason workouts and his comparison of the work ethic of both teams. From DallasCowboys.com:

Reeves, who played four years with the Cowboys, and started 13 games in 2007, said he wasn’t surprised at all about his former team’s decline last year.

He said that feeling has nothing to do with the fact the Cowboys chose not to re-sign him in free agency, but Reeves said a major drop-off was easy to see.

“Honestly, no – not surprised. I’ve been in that environment,” Reeves said of the Cowboys. “I know what’s going on. No, I’m not surprised. Without giving any details, but seeing what went on this past off-season, I kind of expected it. I didn’t hope it. Don’t get me wrong. I certainly didn’t hope that they did bad because they didn’t re-sign me. That wasn’t the case. But I kind of knew what was going on.”

Reeves said the mentality in Houston was not only different, but noticeable from the first day he arrived.

“Yeah, we’ve got a good young team. We’re hungry,” Reeves said of the Texans, who went 8-8 last year. “The thing I saw when I got down there in Houston, rather than Dallas, we were a young, hungry team. It was real obvious that everyone there was working to get better. It was obvious.”

In the “don’t start some, won’t be some” department, I am not passing this along to start trouble.

I think that Texan fans will be interested to see the comparison from someone who came in as an outsider, and knowing the work that Reeves is putting in during the offseason. And I think Cowboy fans can file this away in their with their list of grievances about way their team is being run. (Minor disclaimer: Last link is of questionable taste and is probably not great to click on at work unless you work some place pretty cool).

15 Responses

My opinion, after reading the “enlightening” comments of many of the Houston-based fans of Team DFW, is that they really don’t care if the Cowboys go all the way – though they like it if they at least get in the playoffs – so long as the drama at Valley Ranch is ongoing.Look at the volume of comments crowing about the Cowboys’ stint on HBO, the jersey sales, the name-checking at the four-letter network, etc.It’s like Kate Hepburn is famously SUPPOSED to have said: “I don’t care what you write about me as long as you spell my name correctly.”With HouCowFan, it’s either this, or telenovelas.

I am not trying to be rude but I am not going to read this article(I always read your articles) because of the title…tell J. Reeves to stop comparing us to the Cowboys…I do not like the Cowboys and will not ever root for them. We share the great state of Texas only!! I repeat, tell J. Reeves to stop comparing us the the Cowboys. I know I look foolish, but that’s just wrong, McClain did the stats to defend his play last year and he compares us to the Cowboys…I am insulted right now!! You say things like “We are trying to make all the right moves to become playoff contenders net year and improve through the draft” not compare “us” to “them”. I cannot read this article and I apologize for looking stupid but–he comapred us to the Cowboys so, I just can’t do it!! No!! This is not how a typical Texans’ fan respond to anything, I am speaking for myself as “not a Cowboys fan”!!

I’ll take the heat for this blog…but if one dishes it, be prepared–I will give it back, twice!! I just do not like the Cowboys–I am guilty. I am sorry for taking up space.

[The most important thing in life is to breathe. Most people don’t breathe deeply and fail to utilize the entirety of their lungs. Reeves played for both teams and talked a little about their preparation. If you read the article, it won’t give you cooties. If it does, I understand there are shots for that. -Steph]

Great topic, but I am afraid this might bring some of the troll types to this blog. Dallas vs. Houston tends to do that.

I think the attitude Reeves is referring to is the reason for some of the changes in the Cowboys organization. One of the benefits of building through youth and the draft is that you get players who are hungry and have something to prove, rather than signing expensive veterans who think they have already proven themselves and point to the big contract as evidence. One or two vocal leaders can change the entire locker room. And as long as you have people who treat you like you are on top, there isn’t as much incentive to actually be on top.

Does hiring Roy Williams give them some extra push? Is he a guy who knows how bad it feels to play for a loser, and is ready to push for a winner? Or is he someone who will feel like he is a winner already, because he is out of Detroit? Will the Cowboys reality show winners be a distraction, or will they inject some competitive fire into the team? Is it outside the box thinking, or just a way to get on TV more often?

I didn’t like the Reeves signing last year, but great or even good corners don’t come available often. Steph’s analogy as the best bad choice is a good one, although I would look at it as the best tasting healthy food rather than the least unhealthy “bad” food. I’m a fan of bacon wrapped bacon myself. Plus I think Reeves cover skills are good, he just needs to develop better instincts, which I think is easier than trying to teach a guy with instincts how to stay with his man. With both Reeves and the Cowboys changes, we will have to wait and see.

I admit, I was foolish for not reading the article…I always read your articles, I just do not comment. I like the “Better Bad Choice” analogy…I guess it’s his character that rings from his comment that I am mostly impressed with…not wishing for the Cowboys failure, just noticing a big difference! I guess I will let that bit of info. rub off on me.

Never a play against you, ma’am…you just have to take “fools” comment above seriously, there are lots of blog fights between Texans and Cowboys fans…I dislike the team only, but I highly respect both the Cowboys and their fans.

Jacques Reeves is NOT the perfect CB. That said, he’s NOT a a bad CB. For his first season with the Texans, I’d say he played better than the average starting CB in the NFL. He also seems to be improving. He’s a serviceable starter! The Texans have a LOT of defensive problems that need to be upgraded before we work on CB.

BTW: Good read Steph. Thanks for the SENSIBLE use of links in your blog posts! I realize it isn’t that easy.

I thought that Jacques Reeves comments were very complementary to the Texans, and shows that he thinks before he talks.

To me he is a good example of a fine athlete trying to play football, but he isn’t a football player. I have noticed that given a choice of hitting an opposing player out of bounds he pushes instead. Football players instinctively hit them out and give them something to consider on the next play. A good example being Jason (Max) Simmons, just ask Chris Brown assuming he can remember the hit Max gave him.

I was out of town for a funeral, a very sweet aunt, and not in the mood for sports blogs the last three days. But if you ever have one of those “What were you doing when you were 21″ questions again, there are some stories I kinda remember through the haze.

When I was young, My dad and I watched and cheered for the Oilers together AND watched and cheered for the Cowboys together. I still can’t understand how folks from Texas don’t cheer for both Texas teams.

[Jack, sorry about your aunt. The answer to your last query could fill a book. Yes, there are some fans who considered the Cowboys their NFC team and the Oilers (and now Texans) their AFC team. But then there’s those folks who would as soon root for the Cowboys as they would the Mavericks–that they don’t have much use for anything Dallas. And there’s old time Cowboy fans who couldn’t care less about Houston teams and would bray loudly about rings, glitz and glitter and assorted whatnot. And Houston fans who couldn’t stand to be in the same room with said Cowboy fans. I think that Cowboy fans are like any segment of society–there’s some that are good people and some who might need a good face punching. Lately, I feel bad for them because as a fan of the old Oilers, I know the pain of what it is like to root for a team that has an embarrassing owner. -Steph]

I love him, mark my work and put a DATE on it. he will be our best corner next year, coverage wise.

maybe not most tackles.

you and john are “standing in the middle” on the jac thing. what yall are doing is standing in the middle and when he performs well next year yall will be blowing his name up. i got it on my calender march 18 09 11:15

The Texans and Texans fans would do well to avoid comparisons to the Cowboys. These are two completely different teams in different leagues with different histories and differing visions of the immediate future.

The two owners could not be more different from each other. For that matter, Houston is almost completely different from Dallas.

Frankly, the Cowboys have accomplished too much and the Texans too little to even make it a fair comparison. The Texans have plenty to deal with just taking care of their own business. The Texans have a lot of positives right now and need to stay focused. Comparisons to the Cowboys are not helpful in that regard. Let the Cowboys deal with their own problems.

[History is history. The Texans and the Cowboys have won the same number of playoff games in the Texans short existence. I don’t mean this in the junk talk sense, but rather, that from year to year in the NFL you don’t know what teams will play better. Tom Landry – Jimmy Johnson history is pretty much irrelevant. Last year, the Texans’ offense and special teams was better than the Cowboys’, but their defense was much worse. http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teameff . That means nothing for next year. But I do think it is interesting to hear how hard the Texans work relative to the Cowboys from someone who has been in both places and suspected that the Cowboys would slip–I can’t pass up writing on relevant stuff because of some peoples’ delicate sensitivities or fears of commenter wars. Just where I’m coming from…. -Steph]

This blog topic actually should give Texans fans hope for the upcoming season. They’re doing a lot of good things eventually it should all fall into place, we get a winning team and make the playoffs. Maybe someday they’ll make it to the Super Bowl, if they keep improving player personnel, and the players keep working hard, and the coaches make smart decisions.

Reeves athleticism is what carries him on the field. He has virtually zero instinct for the ball. Fortunately, he’s such an athlete that he’s able to defend passes as they hit the back of his helmet. On the flip side, just imagine his success if he EVER turned said helmet to actually face the ball. I expect, at some point for him to start getting more effective in that area, though. He has to, right? Your comment about some Cowboys fans deserving face punches is dead on. Some of them are likely palatable, I’ve just never met any. Thank you, Lord, for Jerry Jones, and his uncanny ability to enable their self destruction on an annual basis.

[There are actually a good number of people in the Houston area who are fans of both teams. Those people don’t behave like jerks to you because that would be rather self-loathing of them. I hope those people feel welcomed here even though I am not one of them. Outside of Houston, Texans-only fans can feel pretty isolated, and some Cowboy fans abuse them because they take offense and can’t fathom people in Texas who don’t care for Jerry’s team. -Steph]

I will admit, I for one was not a fan of J. Reeves at all and thought his play last year was marginal at best! I did check out J. Mc’s stats on the guy and I guess if we look at those he’d be considered a fair CB. Mc’s stats even suggested Reeves played better than Robinson but there is something about him that doesn’t suggest he’s better during games! However, like we did D. Carr let’s give him a chance. If the stats are true and with the addition of Smith on D up front, it should make Reeves even better and I know he can be better or should be better. Still I like Fred Bennett in that spot. Fred like D-Rob will put a lick on you and you need CBs that not only cover but are physical too! Anyway, I hope JR does good this season as well as the whole team!

[With the Colts in the Texans’ division and the explosion of passing in the league, especially with rules favoring WRs, you can never have enough quality CBs on your team. -S]

Well i like Reeves alot more as a person now, but still not sure bout him on the football field. Nice to know our guys are doing it the right way. I really think we should go after recently released veteran cornerback Samri Rolle, he has size, athletic ability and good ball skills. Reeves is a servicable CB but is not a starte in my opinion, espcially if we want to have an agressive defense like they say they want. You have to be able to leave your corner on an island from time to time and be able to trust he wont get beat deep or get beat underneath than miss a tackle. Im not sure reeves is that capapble. I enjoy ya article’s, dont take this the wrong way but you know your **** for a chick.